Blogs

Ed Miliband addresses workers at Islington Town Hall. Photograph: Getty Images.

Why Labour should introduce a compulsory living wage

By Jon Stone - 05 February 17:02

Requiring all employers to pay a living wage would stimulate the economy, save the state money and ensure that work always pays.

37 Comments

David Cameron and Nick Clegg speak at a press conference.

The opportunities for Cameron and Clegg in Eastleigh are as great as the dangers

By Tom Mludzinski - 05 February 15:20

Clegg has a chance to prove the Lib Dems won't be wiped out in 2015 and Cameron a chance to show how the Tories could win a majority.

6 Comments

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, who opposes gay marriage.

Tory MPs say they support civil partnerships - but did they vote for them?

By George Eaton - 05 February 13:27

Conservative MPs use the existence of civil partnerships as an argument against gay marriage but a significant number voted against them in 2004.

2 Comments

Former Energy Secretary Chris Huhne. Photograph: Getty Images.

The Lib Dems moved on from Huhne a long time ago

By Richard Morris - 05 February 11:40

Party activists are tired of being told that there is such a paucity of Lib Dem talent that the former Energy Secretary leaves a vacuum behind him.

16 Comments

Tony Blair's government introduced civil partnerships in 2004.

Why we have Labour to thank for gay marriage

By George Eaton - 05 February 10:26

It was the dramatic advances in gay rights delivered by the Blair government that made the introduction of equal marriage possible.

5 Comments

Michael Gove speaks at last year's Conservative conference.

Gove's ultra-partisan style is a sign of things to come

By Rafael Behr - 04 February 17:25

Tory MPs see the Education Secretary's politicisation of his department as a case study in how to beat the Whitehall system.

18 Comments

A protest group stages a mock burning of the Leveson Report.

Is Labour preparing to compromise over Leveson?

By Tim Finch - 04 February 16:27

State-backed regulation would be much the best outcome. But Oliver Letwin's proposal of a Royal Charter might just be acceptable.

3 Comments

The Liberal Democrats have increased their majority on Eastleigh Borough Council

Why the Lib Dems are confident they can win the Eastleigh by-election

By George Eaton - 04 February 14:22

Lib Dem activists point out that the party has gained seats in recent local elections.

19 Comments

Former Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary Chris Huhne.

Lib Dems face tricky by-election after Huhne pleads guilty

By George Eaton - 04 February 11:41

Former Lib Dem Energy Secretary announces that he will resign his Eastleigh seat after changing his plea to guilty following the opening of his trial.

19 Comments

Chancellor George Osborne will deliver a speech on banking reform today.

A welcome U-turn from Osborne as he gets tougher on the banks

By George Eaton - 04 February 9:48

The Chancellor backs down and announces that regulators will have the power to break up banks that try to evade new rules.

5 Comments

David Cameron leaves 10 Downing Street in London, on January 30, 2012.

Cameron rebuked by UK Statistics Authority over debt lies

By George Eaton - 01 February 14:48

After the PM falsely claimed the coalition "was paying down Britain’s debts", the UK Statistics Authority points out that the national debt has risen by £300bn.

26 Comments

David Cameron delivers his speech on the UK's relationship with the EU.

The Tories' EU poll bounce is over already - but it's no surprise

By George Eaton - 01 February 12:40

Tory MPs need to remember that just six per cent of voters name the EU as one of the most "important issues" facing Britain.

4 Comments

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne leaves Number 11 Downing Street

Tory rebels set Cameron a deadline - but it's Osborne who's in greater danger

By George Eaton - 01 February 10:11

Conservative MPs are planning to demand the removal of Osborne as Chancellor if the economy fails to recover by May.

19 Comments

Just 17 per cent of Davos delegates were women.

Ending all-male panels is not tokenism

By Clare McNeil - 31 January 17:51

Public debate is in a bad way when efforts aimed at achieving a better gender balance can be dismissed.

4 Comments

A protest in Trafalgar Square in 1990 against the poll tax.

Poll Tax II: the poorest face council tax rises of up to 333%

By George Eaton - 31 January 13:11

A single parent working part-time on the minimum wage could pay £404 more in council tax from this April.

21 Comments

David Cameron meets British soldiers based at Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province.

Tories in turmoil as Hammond says Cameron hasn't promised to protect defence

By George Eaton - 31 January 10:20

Defence Secretary forced to clarify that the PM's pledge to protect spending only applies to defence equipment, not the total budget.

2 Comments

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles. Photograph: Getty Images.

Welfare cuts mean a dramatic rise in council tax for the poorest

By Matthew Pennycook - 31 January 9:09

The decision to reduce the budget for council tax support by 10 per cent means low-income households face a tax increase of up to £600.

9 Comments

The sun sets on Berlin's Reichstag building.

To reform the economy, Miliband should learn from Germany

By Maurice Glasman - 30 January 18:34

The German economy, with its works councils, its regional banks and its vocational training system was much better equipped to deal with globalisation than we were.

10 Comments